New London school board cancels meeting, delaying vote on new superintendent

New London – The Board of Education has canceled its meeting previously scheduled for tonight, the school district announced. The board was expected to vote on a contract for Terrence P. Carter, the candidate chosen to be the city’s next superintendent of schools.

The meeting was canceled “in order to provide Board of Education members with the opportunity to fully clarify and consider recent statements and assertions concerning Terrence Carter,” according to a press release issued by the school system.

The Hartford Courant reported Friday that Carter is listed as “Ph.D.” or “Dr. Terrence P. Carter” on numerous documents over the past five years, including book jackets, programs for symposiums and Chicago Board of Education publications. Carter has not yet received a doctorate in education.

Instead, the board will meet in executive session at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and then will convene a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. “to consider further action on the superintendent’s contract,” according to the press release.

Board President Margaret Mary Curtin said Monday, “The purpose of the executive session is to have a conference call with Dr. Carter and to address several questions our board members have.”

She said she has not yet determined whether State-appointed Special Master Steven J. Adamowski would join the board in executive session.

Curtin said she does not have any questions of her own for Carter “at this point,” but that other board members wanted to either table or postpone the vote until they are able to ask Carter certain questions.

When questioned Sunday about whether the board still intended to vote on Carter’s contract tonight, Curtin said the board would go forward with its vote as planned.